I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I loved the representation and I had a blast!

I love Xiran's writing and their stories so much and I can't wait to see what they have in store for the next one

I really liked the concept and the premise. The little tidbits about Chinese mythology and history can be a little forced into the narrative every now and again but they're still interesting to read about. Sums up the experience of 1st generation immigrants very well, and the overwhelming process of trying to reconnect to your culture despite being a stranger to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

middle grade fantasy novels are better than fantasy novels for any other age group and i think xiran has single handledly gotten me back into the genre. zachary is a muslim chinese diaspora kid who doesn't know much about his heritage as a result of having a single mother that's trying to keep them stable. this is bad because he's apparently meant to host the first emperor's spirit in his body.

there's a lot of history lessons in the novel but I AM SO GLAD i had previous knowledge about the first emperor of china because i knew how this was going to pan out to a certain degree because of what i've read about him in the past (from a magic tree house novel in elementary school).

great book, super fun read, and my only gripe is that i NEED a sequel. like right now.

I really enjoyed this book!! I think because there's so much history behind it, it could get confusing for the reader. It's super wacky as the author intended it, but it makes it so much more interesting! It gets so hard trying to explain the plot to a reader and I thought it ended with a great plot twist.

DNF at 50%

This book would be perfect for middle school boys (or girls) who love video games, RPGs, or trading card games. Unfortunately that is not me. I absolutely loved the author's first book, Iron Widow, so I was excited about this one. I even pre-ordered the book. And while the book is well written and fast paced, I didn't have any interest in the characters or what they were doing. Maybe someday I'll have kids who want to read it and I'll go back to it, but for now this book was not for me.

Pitched as Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh and it is so accurate. Zhao does a wonderful job of portraying life as an immigrant/BIPOC youth in a new land while teaching readers about the past and China's history.

"Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor" by Xiran Jay Zhao is a captivating and imaginative middle-grade novel that takes readers on a thrilling adventure through a world of magic, dragons, and the power of courage. Zhao's storytelling magic shines as they craft a tale of bravery, friendship, and the unexpected heroes that emerge from unlikely places. The book's imaginative world-building and relatable characters create an immersive reading experience that resonates with middle-grade readers. Zhao skillfully explores themes of self-discovery, perseverance, and the bonds between humans and mythical creatures, adding depth to the narrative. "Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor" is a heartwarming reminder that even the most ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary feats, leaving young readers with a sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the magic of storytelling and the limitless possibilities of the imagination.

Ziyang Ying is a 12 year-old Chinese immigrant to America, who came to the US as a small child with his mother after his father was jailed and executed for his political beliefs - beliefs that said that Muslims living in China should have the same rights as any other citizens. As an immigrant who is both Chinese and Muslim, Ziyang - his name Anglicized to Zachary, and called Zack by his peers - has a hard time fitting in; there simply aren't any kids in Maine who have backgrounds even close to his, and no one really understands him. Trying to make friends and at fit in at least a little, Zack is on his school's Mythrealm team - Mythrealm being an online multi-player video game with elements of virtual reality. Then one day, he meets a new kid, Simon Li, who turns out to be a 12 year-old from China, and the best Mythrealm player in the world - and Simon wants to be Zack's friend.

Thus begins a wild ride through Chinese mythology, with Simon, and then his friend Melissa, revealing to Zack that they are possessed by the spirits of long-dead Chinese emperors, who want the three tweens' help in preventing a massive disaster, the releasing of the plug that hold spirits in the afterworld. Given conflicting and sometimes deliberately false information, Zack is pulled between Simon and Melissa and Jason Xuan, the world-famous developer of Mythrealm, who is himself possessed by yet another Chinese emperor, one wants to release the spirits into the world.

There's a lot of Chinese mythology running through this book, as well as a lot of current and not-quite-invented-yet technology; Zack communicates with Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who attempted to possess him, through his portal-lens, an electronic device for accessing a virtual reality overlay, through which Zack plays Mythrealm, as well as other uses, many of them those we would use cell phones for ourselves. The intertwining of the two, mythology and technology, is generally well done, although sometimes the use of the game interface gets a little tedious. This story is an epic quest in true mythological fashion, and as is common in many mythical quests, there are side quests along the way. The main quest is only somewhat finished, and as is all too common in recent times. the only way to read the final completion of the quest will be to read the next volume, due some time in the future. Based on this novel, it should be well-worth reading, but the lack of completion in this volume is disappointing, and strongly contributed to the novel receiving 4 stars rather than 5; leaving a plot point open in the first novel of a projected series is one thing, but this is more like the first installment in a serial - worth reading, but it assumes that the next volume will be published, something that doesn't always, or even often, occur with the first novel from a new writer, no matter how good the volume may be. Recommended for readers ages middle school through adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who grew up obsessed with anime, this book spoke to me. I only wish it had existed when I was in my early teens! A fun read for middle grade readers. Enjoyed the characters so much. And I am a big fan of Xiran Jay Zhao's writing style (Iron Widow was one of my top reads last year). I am 40 years old and enjoyed reading it as much as my 11 year old. She also rated it 4 stars.

When Percy Jackson meets YuGiOh, this is a hilarious, action packed fantasy adventure. It's a middle grade contemporary fantasy where our main character is a young boy who sets on a journey across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm.
It's perfect for all the young readers and middle grade fantasy lovers.

Did not finish. I couldn’t get into this book at all. I thought it would be a fun lighthearted yet dramatic read but the author jumps right in without letting us get to know the characters.

Zachary meets a new Chinese kid at school named Simon who is the human host for an ancient Chinese emperor’s soul. And when Zachary agrees to be a host for the First Emperor’s soul in return for strength, an epic adventure filled with Chinese history and legends begins. Then, when his mom’s soul gets taken by a demon spirit, Zachary has no choice but to go to China to find the portal plug which will prevent more spirits from entering this world –and hopefully save his mom. (No pressure.) Zachary’s experiences give him strength, not from the emperor’s magic, but from learning who he is, his cultural history, and what he values. I loved the adventure, history, culture, and coming-of-age journey– it’s a unique, hard-to-put-down adventure for middle-grade readers ages 9 to 12.

This was a little bit of a miss for me, but I feel like if I read it when I was younger, I would have loved it. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor flows in the same vein as Yu-Gi-Oh and the Percy Jackson books. It is full of mythology and adventure. It’s fast-paced and action packed, but I found the characters a little unrelatable and a tad annoying (probably because I am an adult reading a middle grade book. It wasn’t the book; it was me.)

I did love learning about different Chinese myths and legends, and the way they were incorporated into the book was very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books, and Xiran Jay Zhao for an e-arc of Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor in exchange for an honest review.

A great introduction into Chinese history and mythology. Zachary was a wonderful character to follow along on his adventure with Simon and Melissa. Ziran Jay Zhao has really made the subject matter accessible and fun to read about. She really excels at showing you the motivations and actions of the famous figures, and acknowledges the moral controversies and historical details that have been questioned about these characters. i loved the interactions between the modern host kids and spirits, especially when it comes to the moral ambiguity of the historical figures and their modern hosts.
I am very excited to see where these characters go in a new adventure!

This was a great book from an author that I will definitely be following for a long time. I had a great time reading this, it was fun, it was sweet in places, and I can't wait to share this with my nephew.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am older than the intended audience and I don’t primarily read middle grade, so I was trying to be less critical than I may be for other books. There was definitely the cheesiness of the “chosen one” trope, but I don’t mind it so much in a middle grade novel.

I thought the start was engaging, and we were quick to get into the story. Some sections felt a little info-dumpy, but they were important pieces of history that drove the story/main characters’ wants/needs, so they were needed. This also made me think about the struggles around writing and publishing books that involve history and mythology outside of the western canon, and why books like this are so important.

I appreciated that event this is in a different age demographic than their other book, Iron Widow, that Xiran’s sense and style of humor clearly shone throughout the writing.

This story can also act as a good conversation starter or introduction to the topic of identity and diaspora for preteens/younger teens. I found that it was somewhat addressing the question of “What is lost when you are the child of an immigrant who (out of survival or ease of life) chooses to focus on assimilating to a new/different culture?”

I think this book (and further ones in the series as they are published) will be well loved by fans of the Percy Jackson books. The fighting style was really fun, and even though it was based on Yu-Gi-Oh!, it still felt fresh in this setting.

While not a “I’m in love with this book and want to reread it a million times” book for me, I would still love to continue reading the series, and I am so so glad that it exists.

The characters in Zachary Ying combine Chinese mythology and history, to the extent that I would have loved to have footnotes to help me keep the various emperors and spirits straight, especially which ancient emperor is inhabiting which person. Along with the historical background, the contemporary history includes the oppression of the Muslims Chinese population, and kids feeling “different” among their peers. The use of a video game, Mythrealm, with a haunted headset, will appeal to readers, as well as the many action and adventure scenes as the quest commences. Great book for the adventure seekers in your audience.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the digital arc.

This book is largely a hit with the crowd it's made for; the main character is relatable, the cultural nuances are fascinating, the inner life of the main character is compelling, but it was hard to keep interest in the going-ons as the book waded deeper and deeper into the lore. As an adult, this book wasn't a great hit with me, but it was also clear to see how it will resonate with a Percy Jackson-esque crowd that will struggle less with the nuances of the story and appreciate it for what it is. I love this author, and I love this premise, but there was a disconnect I couldn't reach across to get to the end.

An excellent read for fans of Rick Riordan, Kwame Mmbalai, or mythology in general. Zachary Ying is forced on a journey to seal a portal that will allow spirits/souls to be released into the world, wreaking havoc and destruction. His mom is comatose in a hospital, and to save her, Zachary must aid the middle-grade forms of ancient Chinese emperors and empresses.

Full of adventure and a nail-biting ending, Zachary Ying is a must-have for libraries looking to diversify their mythology, historical, and fantasy fiction collections.